Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today I will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day as so many others - Wearing green, eating Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Soda Bread, and maybe a green frosted cookie or two. I will also be wearing my Irish Claddagh ring from my grandparents. Fashion statement or not, it is very special to me and you won't catch me without it on my hand.

Here is the meaning of the Claddagh ring:

The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown). The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love."

The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the heart pointing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship. When worn on the right hand but with the heart pointing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart". A Claddagh worn on the left hand ring finger, pointing outward away from the body, generally indicates that the wearer is engaged. When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and pointing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.